HISTORY ...

It's been almost 100 years since Claude Hatcher, a young graduate pharmacist in Columbus, Georgia, began creating soft drinks in the basement of his family's wholesale grocery business in 1905. Little did he know at the time that his humble experiments would grow into one of the largest soft drink companies in America, a company that's still driven today by the same innovative,
entrepreneurial spirit.

Hatcher called the first line of beverages Royal Crown, and the first cola product Chero-Cola. Other early products included Royal Crown Ginger Ale, Royal Crown Strawberry and Royal Crown Root Beer.

Sales soon began to grow, and in 1912 the company incorporated as the Chero-Cola Co., and began to manufacture a line of syrups and flavor concentrates that were sold to franchised bottlers who bottled and sold the products under the trademarks owned by Chero-Cola Co. This gave birth to the Royal Crown franchise system as it's known today, which has grown into a worldwide force of Royal Crown bottlers, distributors, and of course, consumers that stretches across the globe.

The sugar shortage did have an effect on the company's manufacturing process, however. During the 1920s, Chero-Cola Co. began to ship its products to bottlers in the form of concentrates instead of syrup. The  bottler would now be responsible for adding pure cane sugar, water and carbonation. Not only did this reduce shipping costs, it also provided the beverages with a fresher taste. Royal Crown still uses this same manufacturing technique.

One of Royal Crown's most beloved lines of fruit flavors was created in 1924. Claude Hatcher overheard a salesman describing a competitor's bottle as knee-high. The words captured Hatcher's imagination, & the Nehi brand of grape, orange, root beer, etc. flavors was launched, and eventually the company name was changed to the Nehi Corporation. Today, Nehi is marketed internationally under the name Royal Crown Flavors.

In 1934, the company decided to reformulate Chero-Cola. After six months, the new product was tested, and it became an instant triumph. People loved the new cola taste calling it, "Pure. Delicious. Refreshing. " The product was launched under the name of Royal Crown Cola, but consumers soon began to affectionately call it by the nickname of RC Cola, which is how it has been known ever since. This product proved to be such an overwhelming success that the company once again changed its name to Royal Crown Company, Inc.

1962 brought an unexpected cola revolution with the launch of Diet Rite Cola. Originally marketed as a special dietary soft drink for diabetics & those on restricted diets, Diet Rite® soon took off with the masses who were counting their calories. In just 18 months Diet Rite® cola became the number four cola in the United States. Cola competitors soon  jumped on the bandwagon. Thousands of jobs were created in the soft drink industry as well as in the glass, paper carton, trucking, chemical, bottling and printing industries.

Throughout the 1970s, Royal Crown made a serious commitment to its overseas development. Royal Crown's strong growth is partly due to the immense size of the world cola market. In the U.S., colas dominate 60% of the market, and most countries are fast approaching that same number. Royal Crown's ability to innovate and adapt has helped us achieve our strong competitive position.

Royal Crown is proud of our products and our unique heritage. Together with our bottlers and distributors, we have maintained the same high standards established by the company's pioneers. Our goal today is the same as it was in 1905-to provide the best possible products at a reasonable price, promptly and courteously to customers
everywhere.